Germans Cling To Heritage Of Music, Gaiety

CASSELBERRY — There isn't a Deutsche strasse lined with German settlers in the area, or a community store where immigrants can gather to immerse themselves in the culture of the Old Country.

But there is the German-American Society, tucked away on a dirt road behind some industrial warehouses. Once inside, visitors feel instantly transported to the European homeland.

An outdoor beer garden, a band playing polka or oompah music, dark German beer and the smell of saurbrauten or roladen -- a spicy roll of thin beef -- mingle to create a happy imitation of the real thing.

For the homesick, and not-so-homesick, the German-American Society brings out the best of the old land, said society president Charles Kersch.

''Its purpose is mostly social, but we attempt to cultivate the good things about the German culture,'' said Kersch, a retired engineer born in Germany.

On Saturday nights, the hall bubbles with tanzten, drinken und essen -- dancing, drinking and eating -- as the native language mixes with sometimes-accented English. The long tables bring together celebrators from all corners of Germany -- and Central Florida.

In the spotless kitchen, volunteer cooks Inge Denys or Katharina Merli prepare authentic German meals from scratch for as many as 150 people. Last Saturday, Merli was in charge of the dinner of weiner schnitzel, rice and mushrooms, salad and bread.

The spectacular desserts stole the show, however. Merli proudly pointed out the apfelkuchen, painstakingly made by hand, and the Austrian pastries punchkrapfen and Sacher Torte, a cake of thin layers iced in chocolate.

Merli, putting the final touches on a strawberry torte, said she would finish cleaning up, then she and her husband, Michael -- chief bottle washer that night -- would change into dance clothes and join the party.

Germans, famous for their beer-drinking and partying, carry on the tradition here. The society's calender is jammed with activities, including a tea dance for the elderly members on Sunday afternoons, folk dance rehearsals two nights a week for the schuhplattler gruppes, bingo parties on Fridays and festive dances every other Saturday.

Then there are special Oktoberfests, Maifests and Weinfests to celebrate the season, the wine or life.

In between are Sunday afternoon Fruehschoppen events that recreate the German custom of visiting friends and family on Sundays. A bite to eat, a shot of Schnapps, a glass of beer and it's on to the next home for more talk, food and drink. At the society, the visiting is conveniently done in one place.

Saturday night parties often go on past 1 or 2 a.m., long after the band is gone, Kersch said. With a touch of pride, he said there has never been a problem with brawls or too much noise at the club.

Rudolph Fischer, a Rollins College music and language professor, founded the society in 1963 with about a dozen German-Americans, Kersch said. Six months afterward, Fischer died. In the early years, members met in rented halls until they raised enough money to buy their current property off Orange Lane.

Today, the society boasts about 500 members whose ages range from the 80s to infancy. The youngest begin dancing and learning German in the kindergruppe, the children's group, as early as age 2.

Members are not required to have German ancestry and ''as long as they behave themselves, we welcome them,'' Kersch said. Membership dues are $25 a year per couple, plus a $25 initiation fee.

Several of the regular party-goers at Saturday's dance never had seen Germany. Their only link to the culture are relatives three generations removed.

JoAnn and Eugene Mallek of Altamonte Springs go to the bimonthly dances. Their two teen-age sons belong to the Alpine Schuhplattlers dance group.

''We like the music . . . you get to know people here and they become like family,'' said JoAnn Mallek.

Others, like Inge Denys, who was born in East Germany and returns to visit friends in West Germany every year, say they like being surrounded by people speaking the native language.

Besides, she said, ''It's a nice place to be.''

Kersch said about 70 percent of the members are from the old country, and the rest have German ancestry.

Germans, who pride themselves on their ability to assimilate, are one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States, Kersch said. He said the 1980 U.S. Census showed that 51 million Americans claim German ancestry. In Florida, 17 percent of the 1980 population of 9.7 million claimed German heritage, he said.

Although there is little immigration from Germany anymore, Kersch said, many natives travel there nearly every year to visit family and friends. Most, like Denys, said they are quite happy in the United States and consider themselves fervent American patriots.

For those born in the United States, the society provides an opportunity to keep up with the language and teach children the customs, said members Rudy and Annie Braun, the Evanses and others.

Guenter Sommer, who came to the United States more than 30 years ago, wears the traditional lederhosen of southern Germany and brings his 3-year-old son, Tyler, to weekly kindergruppe sessions to learn the language and customs. Tyler wears the lederhosen and customary dark green hat with a single feather. Sommer said he learned the folk dances like the Reitenwinkel when he came to Orlando more than 10 years ago. He is vice president of the Alpenrose Schuhplattler group that dances at two German-style restaurants and will compete in May at the Stiftungsfest. That event will bring German-Americans from around the state and the Northeast, Sommer said.